Muck DNA results not in just yet

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, October 30, 2007

HURON COUNTY  Health officials Tuesday dispelled any rumors that results from DNA tests being conducted on some of the areas muck are in as of this time.

Were not aware that theyre back, said Huron County Health Officer Gretchen Tenbusch.  … And we should be the first ones to know.

Huron County Commissioners Clark Elftman and Don Pascarella, along with Chairman Bob Haldane, also confirmed Tuesday that they havent seen any DNA test results. Health officials in late August said they anticipated having some of the test results within six to eight weeks. But in late September Tenbusch said the tests wouldnt be available until the very end of October or mid-November at the very earliest.

The DNA testing is being conducted by Dr. Joan Rose of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University.

During the Huron County Board of Commissioners Aug. 22 meeting, Tenbusch said the tests will look for indicators that are either only specific to humans, or only specific to animals.

For example, MSU will look for a special gene that is only prevalent in humans, not in other animals, she said. Likewise, there are other indicators that are only specific to animals.

If they show predominantly human signs, then we will have an idea that the waste is human. If they all predominantly show animal signs, then we would know that the waste is from animals, Tenbusch said during that meeting. If it shows an equal amount, then well know its a general problem from a variety of sources.

She said the gene thats only specific to humans was found in high counts in samples taken earlier this summer in Bay City.

That was human sewage, Tenbusch said. So were interested to see how that compares to ours.

Since the Huron County Health Department received the results from muck samples taken in Bay County, she said they obviously would receive the ones from Huron County as well.

Tenbusch said she hasnt received any results as of yet, and will be in contact with Rose to see how the tests are progressing.

She wanted to remind the public that these things take time  adding one of the tests actually takes about six months.